Betty Newmarch, fashion designer: papers

Scope and Content

Publications by Horrockses' Fashions (1946 - 1950); photographs of Horrockses' Fashions and staff (1946 - 1958); press cuttings (1946 - 1983); booking out book (1948); photographs of Queen Mary and Princess Elizabeth wearing Horrockses' Fashions clothes (1948); photographs of models (1950s); personal photographs (ca. 1953); sizing books and diaries (1954 - 1955); sketchbooks (1955 - 1957); notes relating to a business trip to the USA (undated); patterns (undated); samples of textiles (undated); sketches (undated).

Administrative / Biographical History

Betty Constance Newmarch began her career in fashion by selling clothes wholesale. She started designing clothes whilst working in a dress factory during the Second World War. She subsequently formed a design team with Marta Pirn and John Tullis at Horrockses' Fashions , where she worked from 1952 to 1963. The team specialised in designing women's clothes and cotton fabrics. Both Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret wore clothes from their collections in the 1950s. Between 1964 and 1968 Newmarch worked as a designer for Doretta Coats . During the 1960s she designed for celebrities such as Margot Fonteyn . She was also associated with both the Birmingham College of Art and the London College of Fashion .

Access Information

This archive collection is available for consultation in the V&A Study Rooms by appointment only. Full details of access arrangements may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Access to some of the material may be restricted. These are noted in the catalogue where relevant.

Acquisition Information

Given by Peter Flutter, 1995.

Conditions Governing Use

Information on copying and commercial reproduction may be found here: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/archives/.

Personal Names

Corporate Names